Votings-machine



(No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. MGTAMMANY.

VOTING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

INVENro L m (mi AN DREW BGRAHAM. PHDTOM'I'NO.WASHINGTONv DL.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J-. MG'I'AMMANY.

VOTING MACHINE Patented Sept. 1o, 1895.

UUUJJUU UUUUU UUUUU UUUUU UUUUU INVENTUR L Janvww? WTNESSES:

ANOHN BLRHAM. PHUTULmiWASHINGTUfL D.C.

UNITED. STATES PATENT @rr-ries.

JOHN MCTAMMANY, OF SPENCER, MASSACHUSETTS.

voriricr-vlAci-iINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,076, datedSeptember 10, 1895. Application filed November 95,13%. sem No. 491.969.dampen `To a/ZZ whom, it may ooncerm Be it known that l, JOHN MCTAMMANY,of Spencer, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new c. and useful Improvements in Voting lla chines, ofwhich the following is a specification. i

This invention relates more particularly to that class ofvoting-machines which employ mechanical counters; and one object of theinvention isl to reduce the size, weight, and number of parts in avoting-machine and to adapt the recording or registering mechanism for aregulation ballot or voting list.

A further object is increased efficiency in guarding against fraud bypreventing repeating, preserving secrecy, and rendering the machineproof against ballot-box stuiing and manipulating.

A further object is to provide improved registering mechanism, wherebymore speedy and accurate returns are obtained.

To the above ends the invention consists in the novel constructions andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figure l shows atop plan view of the machine with the lid orcoverremoved, one of the ballot-covering plates and ballot-sheets beingomitted and its supporting-traine broken away to disclose theregistering-wheels. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the inclosingbox or casing with the registering mechanisms in elevation, with theexception of one, which appears in section. Fig. 3 shows acrosssectionon line 3 3 of Fig. l. Figs. l and 5 show details of parts of theregistering mechanism. Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of an implementdesigned foruse by the voter.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

ln the drawings, the letter a designates the outside inclosing box orcasing, which is provided vtith a hinged lid or cover a. A series oftransversely-extending supports or frames l) is suitably fastened withinthe box, and their flat top sides b are formed with ridges b2, extendingfrom end to end, the object of these ridges being to guide the voter tothe actuating parts of the registering mechanisms, which parts appearalongside the ridges,

the ballot-sheets showing between the same. The transverse supports areformed below their top sides b with grooves, which receive transparentplates c, and said plates support ballot-sheets d, each being inscribedwith groups of names of the dilferent candidates for different offices.It will be observed that the plates and ballot-sheetsare confinedlaterally by the supports b. KThe ballot-sheets are covered andthoroughly protected, while at the same time freely exposed to view, bymeans of transparent plates e, which t between the transverse supportsand are flush with thetop surfaces b thereof. Said plates are confinedat their ends between side bars of a rectangular frame, said side barsalso extending over the ends of the transparent under plates o. (SeeFg.) Each side baris composed of two metal. strips e2 and aseparating-block e7, connected by rivets e3. The side bars areadjustably supported by screws e4, entered through lugs e5 on theinter-ior of the box sides. The machine here shown is designed toaccommodate four ballot-sheets, which constitute a complete ticket ofeach party. Of course this number may be Varied to suit thecircumstances.

The registering mechanism for each ballotsheet is of the sameconstruction, and hence a description of one only will suiiice. A seriesof gear-wheelsf, having smooth peripheriesflo, marked with graduatedseries ot' numbers, are mounted looselyon a shaft f', within the box,and arearranged in groups, according to the number of candidates foreach office, the groups being separated by collars f2. The numberscomposing the groups may be varied to suit the circumstances. Apush-piecej'13 is operatively connected with each registeringgear andextends through the top of the support b opposite the name of theparticular candidate whose votes are to be registered by the wheel withwhich that push-piece connects.

The means of connection between leach push-piece and a registering-gearare as follows: The push-piece is both longitudinally movable androtatable in a bearing in the support Z) and is on the upper end of aspindle f4, which is yieldingly supported by a spiral springf,surrounding its lower part and bearing` at one end against a collar onthe spindle and at the other against a part of the support IOO h. Theupward movement of the spindle is limited by a collar f upon it,abutting the support The push-piece is formed with a double spiralgroove f7, (see Figs. et and 5,) and said groove is engaged by a pin f8,fixed in the support h. Normally the push-piece stands with the pinbelow the corner ff), formed by the meeting ot' the lower ends ofthcspiralgrooves. Upon pressing down said push-piece the contact of oneside of one spiral groove with the pin produces one-half of a completerevolution of the spindle by reason ot the fact that said groove extendshalf-way around the push-piece. Upon the return of the spindle andpush-piece the revolution is completed by the engagement ot the otherspiral groove with the pin.

To insure engagement of the pin throughout the complete circuit of thegrooves, one of the grooves is extended beyond its intersection with theother, as shown at fig, this construction being employed at the lowerand the upper ends. The pin is normally in the lower extension, and thelatter rounds into the intersecting groove, as at fw, to insureclearance of the cornerff, the said intersecting groove receiving thepin. Under depression of the push-piece the latter is carried throughsomewhat more than a half-revolution, which carries the upper extensionf12 into engagement with the piu and insures the engagement of theintersecting groove with the pin on the return of the push-piece and thecontinued turning of the push-piece in the proper direction to completeits revolution. A worm g is splined to the spindle f4, so that it turnstherewith,but does not move longitudinally, and said worm meshes withthe gearf. The worm rests upon a portion ofthe support l). It will nowbe seen that depression of the push-piece produces one completerevolution ot the spindle. rlhis complete revolution ofthe spindle movesthe gear through one tooth and registers one vote on the periphery ofthe wheel. Means are provided for locking the spindle after onedepression to prevent repeating', and with such means are combinedmeansforsimultaneouslylockingallthe pushpieces of a group. Each spindleis formed with an annular shoulder g', which will be termed adliving-shoulder, for the reason that it acts against the carriage,hereinafter described, and drives the same to its locking position. Thespindle is also formed with an annular groove g2, producing ashoulder,which will bo called the loclring-shoulder,7 for the reasonthat locking means, hereinafter described, engage it, and thereby lockthe spindie. A carriage 71, is supported in the frame l) by a spring71,', surroundingr a stem h2, fastened to said carriage,and the latterisadapted to move both longitudinally-z'. e., up and down-and laterallyand is confined laterally on the outerside by a lat spring h3. Slidingpins 7L" in said carriage project under the driviiig-shoulders ofthespindles, and are held in that adjustment by springs h5. Upon depressingany one of the spindles its drivingshoulder, by bearing on the pin ofthe carriage, impels the latter downward until its other pins reach thelocking-shoulders ol the other spindles and spring behind the same, andthereby loclt these spindles. By this action the carriage is detained inits depressed position, so that upon the return of the dcpressed spindlewhich actuated it downward the locking-shoulder of that spindleisbrought: to engagement with a pin of the carriage and the spindlethereby locked. rlhe design is to release the looking means bytheoperating device whereby access is gained to the ballot, and this maybeeffected in dil'l'crent ways. I prefer, however, to combine the lockingmeans with the hinged lid a in such a manner that the raising ot' thelid releases thclocl: andrestores the parts to their normal condition.Therefore the regulations governing the use of the machine will demandthat the cover be closed between each vote.

It will be observed that in the construction here shown a number ofseries of locking-carriages are arranged in line,and it is'desirahlo torestore all parts of the machine to normal adjustment at once. To thisend the following construction is employed: A rock-shaft `1I extendsbehind each series ol` carriages and at a point behind each carriage isprovided with a cam 2", against which the carriage is held by the spring7b3. Normally the carriage stands against a lat side ol the cam andslides over the same in its up-and-down movement. @ne of the rock-shaftscarries a drum l?, and a cord i3, attached thereto, is connected withthe hinged lid a. A voter having voted and the lid having been closed,upon raising the lid for the next voter the drum will bo turned, andconsequently the rock-shaft to which it is affixed, and the cam on saidrockshaft will push the carriages outward and withdraw their pins fromengagement with the spindles, so that all the push-pieces are freed andthe voter may depress any one ot each group. Connection with the otherrockshafts is el'lected through cranks 2, allixed to all therock-shafts, and a rod ff, connect ing said cranks. A spring i, actingagainst a pin on the rod d, restores the rock-shafts and their cams andwinds the cord on the drum when the lid is closed.

As an indicator to show the voter that he has depressed a push-piece tothe proper extent I arrange a gong in connection with the spindles whichcarry the push-pieces. A frame j', pivoted to the sides ot the box,extends along under the lower ends of all the spindles ot one serios,which project through the bottom of the support b. An arm of this frameextends under an arm of a pivoted strikerj, so that upon depression ol'any one ofthe spindles the gong will be struck. One

gong is'made to sull'ice for two series ot spindles by the followingarrangement: A second and larger frame 7o is pivotcd to the sides ot thebox and extends under the spindles ot' IOT) IIO

another series, and also extends under the strikerj, and upon depressionof any one of the spindles of this other series the gong will be struck.

When the voting is to begin, the registering-wheels are all set at zero.The voting is done, as already made apparent, by depressing thepush-pieces which stand opposite the names of the candidates to be votedfor, and a special implement is provided to accomplish the depression ofthe push-pieces, said implementJ being illustrated in Fig. 6. Itcomprises a handle n, in which is rotatively supported a spindle n',ball-bearings n2 being arranged in the handle, so that the spindle mayturn readily. The upper end of each pushpiece is preferably made with aconical socket o, and the end of the spindle is correspondingly tapered,as at 0,-to engage said socket. It will be seen that with this form ofimplement the part held in the hand Adoes not turn, while the partengaging the push-piece may turn therewith.

Vhen the voting has been completed, the cover comprising the transparentplates and supporting-frame is removed, as are also the ballot-sheets,and the registering mechanisms are -visible through the transparentplates which have been supporting the ballot-sheets and the vote can bequickly counted and Will be absolutely correct.

The numerous advantages possessed by a machine v embodying my inventionWill be readily recognized. The machine is compact and the parts arecomparatively few, while at the same time the capacity is very large anda ticket of any size can be accommodated.

The operation required of the voter is exceedingly simple and easilyexplainable to the most ignorant. The implement used to depress thepush-pieces Will be connected by a chain or other suitable means Withthe box and will be always at hand. The voter is notified by thesounding of the gong When a push-piece has been depressed to therequired. extent to register his vote, and hence there is no likelihoodof a vote not being registered. Each vote is registered by positivemechanical means and absolute accuracy insured. The ballot-sheets arethoroughly protected and rendered inaccessible, so that there is nopossibility of their extraction or mutilation. At the same time they arecompletely visible. The vote being registered as taken insures speedyreturns. The returns are read Without gaining access to the registeringmechanism through the transparent ballot-supporting plates, andtampering with the mechanism cannot be accomplished `Without detection.Absolute secrecy is established. The lid of the box, which conceals allthe ballot-sheets and the mechanism, must be closed down after eachvoter has voted and raised again for the next voter, and in raising thelid all the parts are restored to normal adjustment, so that it isimpossible to tell hoW'the preceding voter voted. The operatingimplement adapted for insertion in the orifices containing thepushpieces enables said push-pieces to be compactly arranged, becausethey do not require individual heads large enough to sustain thepressure of the operators finger, the handle n and its spindle servingas a head for every push-piece.

In order to facilitate the setting of the registering-wheels at zero,each Wheel is Weighted at a point opposite the zero-mark, (see e', Fig.2,) and the shaftf, which supports the wheel, engages slots t in theframe, so as to be capable of sufficient movement to disengage theWheels from the gears or worms and allow them to be rotated to theirinitial or zero position by the Weights z, set-screws t regulating theadjustment of the shaft.

When the machine is not in use, the registering-Wheels are locked intheir zero adjustment by means of rods m, inserted through registeringopenings in the Wheels. These rods are Withdrawn by the supervisor Whenthe machine is to be put in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as neW,'and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a voting machine, the combination of a suitably constructedinclosing casing having provisions for supporting an elongated ballotsheet; registering Wheels Within the casing said Wheels having a commonaxis which extends in the direction of longitudinal extent of theballot-sheet support, and each Wheel being rotatively independent of allthe others; and actuating pieces, one for each Wheel, and arranged inline at one side ot' the ballotsheet support so as to register with thenames in the ballot-sheet.

2. In a voting machine, the combination of a suitable inclosing box orcasing, registeringmechanism on suitable supports therein and havingactuating means accessible at the top of the casing, and a transparentcover extending over the registering-mechanism and supporting aballot-sheet adjacent to the actuating devices of theregistering-mechanism, the latter being visible through the transparentcover When the ballot-sheet is removed.

3. In a voting machine, the combination of a suitable inclosing box orcasing, registeringmechanism on suitable supports therein and havingactuating means accessible at the top of the casing, a transparent coverheld by the supports of the registering-mechanism and carrying a ballot,and a transparent cover extending over the ballot.

4. In a voting machine, the combination of an inclosing box or casinghaving a number of transversely-extending supports on the interior,registering-mechanism Whose actuating devices extend through saidsupports at the top, transparent plates resting on said supports andconfined laterally thereby, ballotsheets on said plates, and a coverhaving ltransparencies extending over the said bal- IOO IIO

lot-sheets between the transverse supports, said cover confining theballot-supporting plates longitudinally.

5. In a voting machine, the combination with au inclosing box or casinghaving a transversely-extending interior support, of a plurality ofregistering-wheels loosely mounted on a common shaft and each rotativelyindependent of the others, and headless pushpieces operatively connectedwith said wheels respectively and extending through the transversesupport, in which they are countersunk.

G. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality of registeringmechanisms, pushpieces operatively connected therewith respectively, acarriage having locking pieces for engagement with each push-piece whenin its outermost ornormal position, said carriage adapted to be moved toits locking position by an inward movement of any one of saidpush-pieces, and means for releasing the earriage, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality of registeringwheels, springpressed push-pieces operatively connected therewithrespectively and each having a driving shoulder and a locking shoulder,a springpressed carriage having spring-pressed pins projecting behindthe driving shoulders ol the push-pieces and adapted for engagement withthe locking-shoulders thereof, and means for releasing the carriage fromits locking adjustment.

S. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality ofregistering-wheels, push-pieces operatively connected therewithrespectively, a carriage having locking-pieces for engagement with eachpush-piece when in its outermost or normal position, said carriageadapted to be moved to its locking position by an inward movement ot anyone of said pushpieces, and means for releasing` the carriage, whichmeans control access to the ballot.

9. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality ofregisteringwheels, springpressed push-pieces operatively connectedtherewith respectively and each having a driving-shoulder and alocking-shoulder, a spring-pressed carriage having spring-pressed pinsprojecting behind the driving-shoulders et the push-pieces and adaptedfor engagement with the locking-shoulders thereof, and means forreleasing the carriage from its loching adjustment, which means controlaccess to the ballot.

l0. In avoting machine, the combination of a plurality of registeringwheels, springpressed push-pieces operatively connected therewithrespectively and each having a driving-shoulder and a locking-shoulder,a spring-actuated longitudinally and laterallymovable carriage havin gspring-pressed pins projecting behind the driving-shoulders ol thepush-pieces and adapted for engagement with the locking-shouldersthereof undcrlongitudinal movement of the carriage, and means for movingthe carriage laterally to disengage the pins from saidlocking-shoulders, said means controlling access to the ballot.

ll. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality ot' registeringwheels, spring pressed push-pieces operatively connected therewithrespectively and each having a driving-shoulder and a locking-shoulder,a spring-actuated longitudinally and laterallymovable carriage havingspring-pressed pins projecting behind the driving-shoulders ol' thepush-pieces and adapted for engagement with the locking-shouldersthereof under longitudinal movement of the carriage, a spindle carryinga cam to acton the carriage and move it laterally to release its pinsfrom the locking shoulders of the push-pieces, a drum on said spindle,`and means for operating' said drinn, which means control access to theballot.

l2. In a voting machine, the combination with an inclosing box or easinghaving a hinged lid, ot a plurality of registering-wheels within thebox, push-pieces operativelycon neeted therewith respectively and cachhaving a drivingshoulder and alocking-shoulder, a spring-actuatedlongitudinally and laterally-movable carriage having spring-pressedlocking-pins projecting behind the drivingshoulders of the push-piecesand adapted for engagement with the locking-shoulders thereof underlongitudinal movement ot the earriage, and suitable connections betweenthe carriage and the box-lid whereby the raising of the lid moves thecarriage laterally and releases its locking-pins from the shoulders ofthe push-pins.

13. In a voting machine, the combination with an inclosing box or casinghaving a hinged lid, of a plurality ot' registering-wheels within thebox, push-pieces operatively connected therewith respectively and eachhaving a driving-shoulder and a locking-shoulder, a spring-actuatedlongitudinally and laterally-movable carriage having spring-pressedlocking-pins projecting behind the drivingshoulders of the push-piecesand adapted for engagement with the locking-shoulders thereof underlongitudinal movement et the carriage, a spindlehaving a cam to actagainst the carriage and move itlaterally, a drum on said spindle, and aflexible connection between the drum and the hinged box-lid.

lit. In a voting machine, the combination of a registering-wheel, aspring-pressed longitudinally-movable and rotatable spindle having aspiral groove, atixed pin engaging said groove, and a worm on thespindle and in gear with the registering-wheel, said worin beingrotatively engaged with the spindle but held. from longitudinalmovement.

l5. In a voting machine, the combination of two or more sets or rows ot'push-pieces longitudinally movable to operate on the registeringmechanism, a bell, a pivoted striker, and bars extending across the rowsol push-pieces respectively, and each having an arm engaging an arm ofthe striker.

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16. A voting machine, comprising in its construction a series ofcountersunk push-pieces movable in orifices or guides in the casing ofthe machine, and a single independent pusher insertible in and removablefrom either oriiice for operating said push-pieces.

17. A voting machine comprisinginits construction a series ofcountersunk push-pieces movable in orifices or guides in the casing ofthe machine and socketed in their outer ends, and a single pusher havinga tapering end for engagement With the sockets of the pushpieces andinsertible in and removable from any one of the orifices, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

18. In avoting machine, the combination with registering mechanism, anda rotatable and longitudinally movable push-piece for operating thesame, with provisions for converting longitudinal into rotary movementthereof; of a push-piece comprising a handle to be grasped by theoperator, and a spindle rotatable in said handle and adapted to act onthe push-piece, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribingWitnesses, this 20th day of November, A. D. 1893.

,lOl-IN MCTAMMANY.

Witnesses: A. D. HARRIsoN, F. PARKER DAVIS.

